Microphone attachments for musical instruments



1969 J. E. LICHTENSTEIN 3,421,401

MICROPHONE ATTACHMENTS FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed Dec. 23, 1965 Sheetof 2 Joseph Edgar L/chfensfe/h v INVENTOR.

Jan. 14, 5 J. E. LICHTENSTEIN 3,421,401

MICROPHONE ATTACHMENTS FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed Dec. 23, 1965 Sheet2, of 2 INVENTOR.

M IW United States Patent Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Anattachment for musical instruments that attaches directly to a musicalinstrument and holds a microphone allowing the microphone to be placedin an optimum position in relation to the sound producing section of themusical instrument.

The present invention generally relates to a microphone attachment formusical instruments and more specifically involves the use of severalstructural variations of the microphone attachment to enable amicrophone to be adjustably positioned in relation to the instrument sothat optimum amplification may be obtained both as to flexibility,volume and quality.

Heretofore, microphones have been associated with various musicalinstruments so that the sound produced by such instruments may beamplified. In certain types of musical instruments, especially woodwindinstruments, a stand-type microphone is placed so that one or moreinstruments more or less directs the sound or music towards themicrophone of the house public address system. While this procedure doesprovide some degree of amplification, this procedure does not producethe amplification in a natural manner nor of a consistent uniformquality of that produced by a microphone being attached directly to themusical instrument.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide amicrophone attachment for woodwind musical instruments including aclamping assembly for attaching a supporting arm or rod in an adjustedposition in relation to the instrument so that a pickup microphonemounted on the rod may be orientated adjustably in the optimum positionin relation to the instrument thereby allowing personal amplifiers to beplaced among orchestra members, allowing additional effects through theuse of reverberation, allowing volume and tone to be controlled by theperformer. Normally, microphones supplied by the individual performerwould not readily be adaptable to conventional public addressinstallations.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a microphoneattachment for musical instruments having a novel clamping assembly toenable the microphone to be readily attached to the musical instrumentwithout alteration of the instrument, damage thereto or marring of thesurface thereof with the clamp assembly being differently constructedfor association with different types of musical instruments.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a microphoneattachment in accordance with the preceding objects which includes atubular supporting standard or rod through which the lead wire from themicrophone may pass, emerging close to the performers hand which acts asa fulcrum thus reducing the imbalancing weight of the microphone andenabling the microphone holder to be associated adjustably in relationto a particular area of the musical instrument for etficiently pickingup the desired sounds for amplification.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a microphoneattachment for a flute having a clamp structure attached to the body ofthe flute which is ade- 3,421,461 Patented Jan. 14, 1969 "ice quatelyclamped to reduce key noises and a standard extending alongside the headjoint with a microphone holder supporting the microphone in optimumrelation to the embouchure plate for providing ample volume while at thesame time eliminating or reducing breath noise.

A further important object of the present invention is to provide amicrophone attachment for a saxophone or the like having a clampingarrangement for clamping the attachment to the bell of the saxophonethereby allowing accurate placement of the microphone to obtain optimumbalance between tones emitting from the keys and from the bell of thesaxophone.

Still another feature of the present invention is the provision of amicrophone attachment having a generally triangular shaped clampassembly which is universal for clampingly engaging tubular portions ofmusical instruments of various sizes, shapes and configurations andprovided with resilient knobs for damping key vibration.

Another significant object of the invention is to provide a microphoneattachment for woodwind musical instruments which is simple inconstruction, easy to attach, effective for adjustably holding amicrophone in optimum relation to the musical instrument, light weightin construction and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the microphone attachment of thepresent invention associated with a flute;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse, sectional view taken substantially upon aplane passing along section line 22 of FIGURE 1 illustrating the clampstructure for supporting the microphone attachment from the barrel ofthe flute;

FIGURE 3 is a detail sectional view taken substantially upon a planepassing along section line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 illustrating furtherstructural details of the clamp mechanism including the tubular standardand the manner in which the lead wire extends therethrough;

FIGURE 4 is a detail sectional view taken substantially upon a planepassing along section line 44 of FIGURE 2 illustrating furtherstructural details of the clamp mechanism;

FIGURE 5 is a detail sectional view taken substantially upon a planepassing along section line 55 of FIGURE 1 illustrating the manner inwhich the microphone cartridge holder is mounted on the standard;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the elongated tubular standard forsupporting the microphone holder from the clamp;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmental elevational view illustrating a modified formof the invention clamped to the bell end of a saxophone;

FIGURE 8 is a front elevational view, with portions shown in sectiontaken generally along reference line 8-8 of FIGURE 7 illustrating thestructural details of the adjustable hollow standard;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmental front view similar to FIG- URE 8 butillustrating a holder for a circular or cylindrical microphonecartridge;

FIGURE 10 is an end view of a modified form of clamp structure withportions thereof broken away for clampingly engaging a tubular componentof a musical instrument;

FIGURE 11 is an edge elevational view of the construction of FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 12 is an end view of another form of the invention, with portionsthereof broken away illustrating a triangular clamp arrangement in whichthe two legs of the triangle are attached to the base by pivot pins; and

FIGURE 13 is a detail sectional view taken substantially upon a planepassing along section line 13-13 of FIGURE 12 illustrating furtherstructural details of this form of the invention.

Referring now specifically to FIGURES 1-6, the microphone attachment ofthe present invention is generally designated by numeral and includes aclamp assembly generally designated by numeral 22, a standard generallydesignated by numeral 24 and a support housing 26 for a microphonecartridge. The attachment 20 is illustrated attached to a standard flutegenerally designated by numeral 27 which includes a tubular body 28 andhead joint 30 and the usual embouchure 32 having the usual embouchurehole 34 therein. The flute 27 is of completely conventional constructionand as is well known, the head joint 30 having the embouchure 32 thereonis longitudinally adjustable for tuning. The clamp assembly 22 isdisposed between two peripheral ribs 36 formed normally integrally onthe flute body 28 which allows the locating of clamp assembly 22.

The clamp assembly 22 includes a generally cylindrical member 38 havinga tangentially extending plate portion 40 and a laterally extendingportion 42 which is rigid with the cylindrical member 38 and has asubstantial thickness as compared with the thickness of the plate 40.The plate 40 is spaced from the laterally extending arm 42 and is spacedtherefrom by a slot-like opening 44 which extends throughout the lengthof the arm 42 and forms an interrupted space 46 to enable thecylindrical member 38 to be expanded to be moved longitudinally over theend of the head joint 30 and rib 36 on body 28 and in order to enableeifective increase in the diameter of the cylindrical member 38. On theinterior of the cylindrical member 38 is a covering of cushioningmaterial 48 or the like which may be felt, rubber, plastic or the likephone attachment of the present invention is generally coinciding withthe space 46 to allow for variation in size of cushion 48, to cushionthe clamp where it engages the body 28, preventing the clamp frommarring the body 28 in an obvious manner and damping vibrations causedby key action.

The outer ends of the arm 42 and plate 40 are rounded or arcuatelycurved as at 50 and a slot 52 paralleling the slot 44 extends inwardlyfrom the central end portion of the arm 42 and terminates in acylindrical socket 54 which pivotally receives a rod portion 56 of alatch member 58. Attached to the rod member 56 is a radially extendingrod member 60 having a rod member 62 on the end thereof parallel to therod member 56 as illustrated in FIGURE 4. A slot 64 intersects the slot52 and also the slot 44 to enable the fastener or catch 58 to swingabout an axis defined by the rod 56 to the position illustrated inFIGURE 2 which is permitted by curve 50 at least on plate 40. To lockthe bar or rod 62 in locked position, the arm or plate 40 is providedwith a pair of detents 66 over which the rod 62 is snapped for securingthe clamp assembly 22 on the head joint 30 of the flute 27 in the mannerillustrated in FIGURES 1-4.

Inwardly of the rounded inner end 54 of the slot 52, the arm 42 isprovided with a bore 68 extending therethrough which receives a tubularprojection 70 on an elongated hollow standard 72. The end of theprojection 70 is deformed outwardly as at 74 to lock the standard 72 tothe arm 42. A microphone lead wire 76 extends through the projection 70and the tubular rod or standard 72 which is oval-shaped in configurationand has the inner end thereof received within a correspondingly shapedrecess 78 in the arm 42 to prevent rotation of the standard or hollowrod 72 about its longitudinal axis. Other nonsymmetrical or polygonalshapes may be used for the standard and recess 78.

The other end of the standard 72 is provided with a laterally extendingterminal end portion 80 provided with an integral axially extendingreduced end or pin 82 which receives a bushing 84 of a compressiblematerial such as soft rubber in order to provide a friction fit andprovide damping to further reduce vibration noises. The bushing 84 hasan integral washer 86 engaging the shoulder defined by the juncturebetween the pin 82 and the end portion 80. A washer 88 of compressiblematerial is engaged with the pin 82 in opposed relation to the washer 86and the end of the pin 82 is riveted or deformed outwardly as at 90 tosecure the bushing 84, washers 86 and 88 in place and pivotally supportthe microphone cartridge housing 26 which includes a plate-likestructure 92 having a reduced end portion received on and pivotallycarried by the pin 82 and bushing 84. The plate 92 is provided with aprojecting flange 98 and a cap 96 having a projecting flange 94telescoped over the flange 98 is provided for retaining the microphonecartridge 100 in place. The cap 96 is provided with openings 102 for thepassage of sound and a cushioning member 104 is disposed between thecartridge 100 and the flange 98 for cushioning the microphone cartridge100 in an obvious manner. The microphone lead wire 76 extends outthrough the tubular standard at the end thereof where the laterallyextending end portion 80 is joined and is connected to the microphonecartridge 100 in an obvious manner. The flanges 94 and 98 arefrictionally retained in place which enables the microphone cartridge100 to be removed and replaced as may become necessary.

As illustrated in FIGURES 1-6, the microphone holding flange 94 and thecap 96 are of rectangular configuration to receive a generallyrectangular microphone cartridge. However, the shape and configurationof the microphone housing may vary depending upon the shape andconfiguration of the microphone. For example, the cy1indrical housingsuch as that illustrated in FIGURE 9 may be employed rather than thegenerally rectangular microphone cartridge housing 26 as employed inFIGURES 1-6. Also, the particular orientation of the apertures 102 mayvary depending upon the particular individual requirements.

In this form of the invention, the microphone cartridge is orientedclosely adjacent the emission of tone or sound and in an optimumposition to provide ample volume while eliminating as much breath noiseas possible by virtue of the longitudinal position of the microphoneholder 26 being adjustable by loosening the clamp assembly 22, theangular position of the microphone holder about the longitudinal axis ofthe flute being adjustable by loosening the clamp assembly 22 and withthe angular position of the microphone holder 26 being adjustable aboutthe pivot pin 82 by overcoming the frictional resistance to movementexerted by the head 90 on the pin 82 with friction developed by bushing84 being used to retain the microphone holder in position. This willenable tuning of the flute in the usual manner, that is, by sliding thehead joint 30 longitudinally in relation to the body 28 of the flute 27.

The effective over-all length of the holder may be varied and thecomponents thereof may be constructed of plastic material such as nylon,polycarbonate (Lexan, manufactured by General Electric) or othersuitable plastics thus rendering the device extremely light weight inconstruction so that it will not disturb the balance or fulcrum point ofthe flute which is important since it is necessary to be able to holdthe flute in the usual manner. The particular configuration of the gridwhich overlies the microphone cartridge may vary and be either in theform of a straight gridwork, a baffle-type of gridwork or anyconventional form to satisfy acoustical requirements.

FIGURES 7 and 8 illustrate another embodiment of microphone attachmentfor mounting on the bell 112 of a saxophone. This structure alsoincludes a clamping assembly 114, a supporting standard 116 and amicrophone holder 118.

The clamp assembly 114 includes an arcuately curved plate 120 having aplurality of knobs or projections 122 of resilient or soft material forconforming with and engaging the convexly curved interior surface of thesaxophone bell and causing damping of mechanical vibrations in thesaxophone. One end of the plate 120 is provided with a U-shaped portion124 and a mounting portion 126 which generally extends parallel to thearcuate member 120 but with it slightly diverging therefrom. The end ofthe mounting portion 126 is bifurcated as at 128 and pivotally supportsa 'cam 130 on a pivot pin 132 which is, of course, eccentric to the cam130. The cam 130 has a handle 134 connected thereto to enable movementof the cam 130 about the pivot pin 132 thus clamping and releasing theclamp assembly 114 from the saxophone bell 112 by moving the handle 134in an obvious manner. For further damping, the surface of cam 130 may besoft or resilient where it engages the saxophone bell.

At the U-shaped portion of the clamp assembly 114, there is provided alaterally extending projection or stud 136 having a spherical ball 138on the outer end thereof. The stud 136 is generally perpendicular to theplate 120 as illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 8.

The standard assemby 116 includes an outer tubular portion 140 and aninner tubular portion 142 which telescopically receives the outertubular member 140 and is mounted on the spherical ball 138 asillustrated in FIG- URE 8 thus enabling longitudinal adjustment of thestandard 116 and also universal angular adjustment thereof in relationto the clamp assembly 114.

The outer end of the inner tubular member is longitudinally slit as at144 and is externally threaded as at 146 for receiving an internallythreaded and slightly tapering clamp sleeve or nut 148 which isexternally knurled so that as the nut or sleeve 148 is threaded inwardlyon the tubular member 142, the tubular member 142 will compress inwardlythus gripping the tubular member 140.

The lower end of the inner tubular member 142 is provided with apartially spherical socket 150 formed by a plurality of independentfingers 152 which are separated by longitudinal slits 154. The fingers152 are externally threaded for threadedly receiving an internallythreaded sleeve 156 which is knurled on the exterior surface thereof sothat as the sleeve or nut 156 is threaded inwardly onto the fingers 152,the shape of the socket 150 will be reduced thus clampingly engaging thefingers 152 with the spherical ball 138 thereby adjusting and lockingthe standard 116 in fixed angular orientation in relation to the plate120. 3

The outer end of the outer member 140 is provided with a laterallyextending end portion 158 which supports the microphone cartridge holder118 in exactly the same manner as the laterally extending end portion 80in FIG- URES 1-6 supports the microphone holder 26 in FIG- URES 1-6. Inthis construction, the lead wire 160 may extend laterally outwardly ofthe inner tubular member 142.

As illustrated in FIGURE 9, the microphone cartridge holder is generallydesignated by numeral 162 and includes a plate 164 and a cylindrical cap166 and corresponding structure thus indicating that the microphonecartridge holder may be in the configuration illustrated in FIGURES 18or it may be circular or cylindrical as illustrated in FIGURE 9.

FIGURES and 11 illustrate a universal type of clamping assembly 170 forclamping engagement with a tubular component 172 of a musical instrumentwhich may vary in size as indicated by the dotted line illustration inFIGURE 10 thus providing a universal type of clamp that includes threeplates or bars including a base member 174 and a pair of legs 176 and178 which are substantially equal in length and which combine with thebase member 174 to form generally a triangular shaped member when thefree ends of the legs 176 and 178 are disposed in adjacent relation. Thebase member 174 and each of legs 176 and 178 is provided with aplurality of generally semi-spherical knobs 180 of soft or resilientmaterial which form effective means for clampingly en gaging the tubularcomponent 172 at a plurality of circumferentially spaced points eventhough the size of the tubular component 172 may vary and causingdamping of mechanical vibrations in the musical instrument.

The base member 174 is provided with a projecting arm 186 which has astandard 188 attached thereto in the same manner as the standard 72 isattached to the arm 42 in FIGURES 1-6. The lead-in wire 190 is alsoorientated in the same manner as in FIGURES 1-6.

The end of the leg 176 is bifurcated and receives a block 192 thereinand pivotally attached thereto by pivot pin 194. The end of the leg 178is provided with a similar block 196 pivoted thereto by a pivot pin 198to enable relative angular movement of the legs 176 and 178 when anelongated clamp screw 200 is employed for urging the legs 176 and 178together or permitting them to expand. The elongated clamp screw 200 hasa knurled head 202 for operation thereof and an elongated threadedportion 204 which extends through an internally threaded bore 206 in theblock 196. The shank of the threaded member 200 is received closely in abore 208 through the block 192 thus retaining the blocks 192 and 196generally in parallel relation to each other with the angular movementbetween the block 192 and leg 176 being permitted by the pivot pin 194thereby enabling the clamp screw to effectively clamp the clamp assembly70 to a tubular component 172 illustrated in FIGURE 10 and also atubular component as large as the dotted line illustration in FIGURE 10.This form of the invention is constructed of polypropylene the onlypresently known plastic with self-hinging qualities.

The juncture between the leg 176 and the base member 174 and between theleg 178 and the base member 174 is defined by a hinge area 210 which isactually of unitary construction with the base member 174 andcorresponding leg 176 or 178. The hinge area 210 actually is a part ofthe leg and base member structure and is defined by a generallysemi-cyclindrical notch or the like which hinge area is formed beforethe plastic is finally cured or set. After the plastic is set, the hingearea 210 will remain flexible while the base member 174, leg 176 and leg178 will be substantially rigid.

FIGURES 12 and 13 disclose another embodiment of the clamp structure 212which includes a base member 214, legs 216 and 218 having blocks 220 and222 pivotally connected thereto and interconnected by a screw-threadedclamp member 224. This form of the invention is exactly the same as theembodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 10 and 11 except forthe hinge connection between the base member 214 and the legs 216 and218. In this construction, overlapping hinge barrels 226 are providedand interconnected by hinge pins 228. Other than the mechanical hingeconstruction formed by the hinge barrels 226 and binge pin 228, theclamp structure 212 is the same as the clamp assembly 170 illustrated inFIGURES 10 and 11 except that it could be made of many practical,durable, and moderately light materials suoh as nylon, aluminum or thelike.

From the variations in the clamp structures disclosed, it will be clearthat the microphone attachment may be mounted in an adjustable manner onvarious types of musical instruments and in each instance, themicrophone pickup cartridge will be oriented in the optimum position forreceiving the sound or music produced by the instrument so that it canbe amplified. In addition, the structure of the device is primarlyplastic material thus rendering it quite inexpensive to manufacture andat the same time relatively neat in appearance and also light in weightso that it will not disturb the balance of the instrument, mar thefinish of the instrument or in any way require permanent alteration,modification or disfigurement of the instrument. Moreover, theattachment of this invention will not interfere with the normal playingoperation of the instrument and will enable substantially any woodwindinstrument to be connected with its own amplifier so that suchinstruments will not be overpowered by other instruments in an orchestraor the like. Further, it allows variations in tonal qualities, effectsand volume to be controlled by the performer and makes possible theemission of the amplified tone to always be in the proximity of theperformer, to acquire a more natural orchestral effect.

In some installations, two or more microphones may fed into oneamplifier input or into individual inputs of a multi-channeled amplifierto permit individual tone and volume adjustment and to improve balanceof the tonal spectrum of the musical instrument.

With the present invention, the introduction of reverberation isaccomplished in order to produce an entirely new group of effects. Also,this invention introduces the possibility of mobile amplification ofwoodwind instruments acquired without modification of the instruments byusing a battery powered portable amplifier.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be restored to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A microphone attachment for musical instruments comprising a clampassembly adapted to be mounted directly on the musical instrument, asupporting standard attached to the clamp assembly, and a microphoneholder attached to said standard, said microphone holder being pivotallyadjustable on said standard, and said clamp assembly being adjustable inrelation to a musical instrument whereby a microphone in the microphoneholder can be orientated in the optimum position in relation to thesound producing section of a musical instrument.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said clamp assemblyincludes agenerally cylindrical member having a pair of laterallyextending spaced arms forming an entrance slit, one of said arms beingthicker than the other, a pivotal latch member mounted on said thickerarm, means on the other arm for engagement by said latch member wherebythe cylindrical member may be clamped to a musical instrument, saidstandard being mounted on said thicker arm and extending therethrough ingenerally parallel relation to the axis of the cylindrical member.

3. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said clamp assemblyincludes an arcuately curved plate adapted to conform with the interiorconvex surface of a saxophone bell or the like and including a pluralityof spaced projections engaging the interior surface of the saxophonebell at spaced points to enable the plate to conform with saxophonebells having various arcs or curvature, a pivotal clamp member mountedin spaced relation to the plate and including a clamping edge adapted toengage the saxophone bell in opposed relation to a point intermediatethe projections on said plate, said standard being universallyadjustably attached to said plate and including longitudinallytelescopic sections.

4. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said clamp assemblyincludes a base member, a leg at each end of said base member, meanshingedly interconnecting said legs and said base member at the ends ofsaid base member, means interconnecting the free ends of the legs formoving the free ends of the legs towards each other for grippinglyengaging a musical instrument, and spaced projections on the base memberand each of the legs for engaging a musical instrument at a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced points, said base member including an armprojecting outwardly therefrom, said standard being connected to saidarm.

5. The structure as defined in claim 4 wherein the means at the freeends of the leg members includes a pair of blocks projectinglongitudinally therefrom, pivot pins connecting the blocks to theirrespective leg members, said means interconnecting the blocks includingan elongated clamp screw having an operating knob on one end thereofengaging one of the blocks, the other of the blocks having an internallythreaded bore engaging a threaded portion of the clamp screw wherebyrotation of the clamp screw will move the leg members towards each otheror permit the leg members to spread apart.

6. The structure as defined in claim 4 wherein said hinge meansinterconnecting the ends of the base member and the leg members includeshinge-forming barrels on the base member and the leg member with thebarrels being disposed in aligned relation and having a bore extendingtherethrough, and a hinge pin extending through said bore therebypivotally connecting the leg members to the base member.

7. The structure as defined in claim 4 wherein said hinge means betweenthe base member and the leg members includes an area of flexible plasticmaterial unitarily formed with the base member and leg members with thearea being more flexible and less thick than the base member and the legmembers to enable flexing at the ends of the base member.

8. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said standard is in theform of an elongated tubular member extending generally in perpendicularrelation to the clamp assembly and being mechanically interlocked withthe clamp assembly to prevent relative rotation therebetween.

9. The structure as defined in claim 8 wherein said standard has anoffset upper end portion of solid construction the major portion of thestandard being hollow for passage of a microphone lead wire, saidmicrophone cartridge holder being pivotally attached to the offset endportion of said standard.

10. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said microphonecartridge holder includes a substantially flat plate having a peripheralflange thereon receiving the microphone cartridge, and a cap havingopenings therein engaged with the flange for retaining the microphonecartridge in place and enabling entrance of sound to the microphonecartridge, said plate being pivotally attached to said standard toswivel about an axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinalaxis of the standard.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 995,411 6/1911 Morrill 84453RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner.

GARY M. POLUMBUS, Assistant Examiner.

